Semi-automatic gun

A semi-automatic gun is a gun that ejects the case after being fired and is ready for loading again with the breech open. The first of these weapons were further developments of rapid-fire guns after the turn of the century and were used in large numbers as early as the First World War .

function

Semi-automatic

Semi-automatic guns are usually recoil guns with a wedge lock that fire cartridge ammunition . In the case of recoil guns, the barrel is not attached directly to the mount, but on a barrel cradle in between . When the shot is fired, the barrel is accelerated backwards by the recoil and brought back into the firing position by the barrel retriever in the barrel cradle. Shortly before the end of the pre-run, the closure is opened by a guide curve attached to the cradle and ejects the sleeve. The shutter remains open. For recharging the next cartridge is inserted into and with a wooden coaster cartridge chamber pushed, is brought back to its forward position after which the Hülsenauswerfer, with the result that the shutter closes. The gun is loaded.

Shot release

Depending on the gun, the striking device can be cocked after reloading or not cocked for safety reasons. In the second case, when the trigger is actuated or the launching sling is pulled, the striker is cocked, released and strikes with the firing pin on the primer of the case. If the trigger is released, a spring brings the hammer back into its rest position.

literature

• Otto Wilhelm von Renz: German air defense in the 20th century , 1960, page 41
• Walter Stutz: Artillery II recoil guns of the artillery and heavy air defense , 1977, Verlag Stocker Schmid, Dietikon Zurich